Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Boyne Readings and Open Mic, Grainne Toher

The featured reader at this week's Boyne Readings and Open Mic is Gráinne Toher. Gráinne, a native of Galway, has just launched her debut novel entitled Comings and Goings. The book draws its inspiration from popular culture, friends and family, her experiences and the world around her. It follows the ups and downs of a group of pals as they try to handle jobs, men and babies with a touch of wit, a cocktail and a bit of sparkle.

Gráinne is a member of Mullingar Scribblers writing group and said that group gave her great encouragement and feedback, which helped inspire her writing but that it was a train journey that initially unleashed her writing skills. “I was on the train one day and getting bored as I was stuck in Maynooth waiting for the signal to change. I took up a pen and the floodgates just kind of opened,” she said.Over nine months later Comings and Goings, which is set in Dublin just after the recession first hit, was completed and Gráinne is already working on her second book.

I'm looking forward to this, always interesting to see how novelists approach readings. how much background is needed, how much explanations, what passages to pick - one long chapter or a few shorter ones. It's easy for poets to go up and read a few poems much more difficult for real writers! No pressure Gráinne.

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I'm a retired teacher and ICT Advisor who writes history and poetry. A native of County Sligo now living in Meath. A member of LitLab the Cavan/Meath Writers' Group, of Boyne Writers, Trim, County Meath and former editor of their magazine Boyne Berries.